Steve Clarke watched Scotland take a step nearer to Euro 2024 with a 3-0 win over Cyprus however claimed one of the best a part of the evening was a late Ryan Porteous block to maintain a clear sheet.
Scott McTominay opened the scoring within the sixth minute in Larnaca together with his sixth purpose in 5 qualifiers earlier than defender Porteous volleyed in his first worldwide purpose 9 minutes later.
McTominay arrange midfielder John McGinn for a 3rd after 29 minutes and though the Scots cruised the second half, Porteous dived full size in stoppage time to cease a Cyprus shot testing Angus Gunn.
“For me, one of the best second of the sport,” mentioned Clarke
“That tells all people what we’re about. We didn’t need to concede.
“We spoke at half-time about perhaps we will get 4, perhaps we will get 5 however a very powerful factor is Cyprus will get nil and that block on the finish tells you every part about this staff and the mentality they’ve.
“It was good, one other step on the street to what we need to do, which is qualify.
“It was efficiency, objectives within the first half, well-controlled the second half. We have now to be happy.
“It confirmed they have been keyed up for the sport. It was good on an evening like this when it was scorching and humid, you get your self in entrance so that you don’t need to chase the sport. ”
The Scots have 5 wins out of 5 Group A qualifiers to sit down 9 factors forward of Spain having performed two fixtures extra.
Scotland host England in a particular a hundred and fiftieth anniversary heritage match on Tuesday evening and if Norway and Georgia draw of their qualifier the identical night, then the Scots could have reached their second successive European Championships.
Clarke’s facet nonetheless have video games towards Spain, Georgia and Norway to come back and the supervisor stays reluctant to look any additional ahead than Tuesday.
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He mentioned: “I’m happy that followers can take pleasure in one other win. Happy that they assume they’ll guide their flights.
It was efficiency, objectives within the first half, well-controlled the second half. We have now to be happy.
Steve Clarke
“Followers can do what they need, they are often excited, they’ll get carried away
“We have now to concentrate on what we’re at. If 15 factors is sufficient we’ll discover our later down the road.
“I’m happy for the gamers and clearly it’s good for me to be the pinnacle coach of a bunch of gifted gamers. However lets’ be sure that we qualify then we’ll work on the following goal.
“We have now performed 5 video games and have 15 factors, that’s good.
“I’d wish to assume within the final three video games we might choose up extra factors. We simply hold attempting to push ourselves and never be complacent. We’re in place.”
Cyprus boss Temuri Ketsbaia had no complaints concerning the defeat which left his facet with no factors from 4 Group A fixtures.
The previous Newcastle, Wolves and Dundee participant, talking by way of an interpreter, mentioned: “We misplaced to a greater staff, every part was completed in a 10-minute spell within the first half.
“It was a good outcome.
“We managed to enhance within the second half however the match was completed at half-time.
“We misplaced to a high-level staff. We wanted a much bigger effort from all of the staff, not simply from 4 or 5 gamers, you want extra.”
